The expenditures involved with the regular upkeep of a box hedge may often make it impractical or just not worth the money, despite the fact that it can be a lovely addition to any landscape.
You are in luck since there is a plethora of alternative solutions available to you when it comes to the creation of privacy that won’t cost you as much money and may need less effort on your side.
Here is a list of ten alternatives to box hedge that are not only simple to track down but may even need less effort to maintain.
Alternative To Box Hedge
- Evergreen Trees
Evergreen trees are a popular choice for home landscaping because they keep their leaves year-round, providing year-round shade and beauty.
There are many types of evergreens available to choose from, so look around your local nurseries to find the perfect tree.
You may want to plant more than one evergreen tree since they are most effective when planted in clusters or groups.
You can also create privacy barriers with them if you live near a busy street. However, they should not be placed too close together because they will compete with each other for sunlight and nutrients.
- Deciduous Shrubs
A deciduous shrub is a tree that loses its leaves in the fall and grows new ones in the spring. Deciduous trees are perfect for people looking for a hedge that will provide privacy during the winter months.
Some popular deciduous shrubs are privet, black locust, arborvitae, and holly. Non-deciduous plants: There are plenty of plants that can also make great hedges.
These include evergreen bushes such as junipers and yews as well as cedars and pines which do not lose their leaves in the wintertime. Ferns and hostas also work well because they look like little bushy plants.
- Cactus Hedges
Cactus hedges are an excellent alternative for those who want a hedge that is lower maintenance and drought-resistant.
Cactus hedges are available in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. They can grow up to 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide, but they’re easy to trim down if you need them shorter.
The cactus hedge’s prickly needles will deter rabbits and deer from nibbling on the plants. You may also be able to find a variety of different colors such as blue or green varieties!
When planting your new cactus hedge, use soil mixed with sand or composted manure. Make sure to water your new plant every day until it has established itself (about 3-4 weeks).
- Ground Covers
Ground covers are a great way to help your garden retain moisture, and they also provide excellent ground cover.
They can be used in place of a lawn in smaller spaces, while they can also be used as a living mulch around the plants in your garden. Some popular ground covers include:
- English Ivy (Hedera helix)
- Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
- Primula Auricula
- Miniature Evergreens
- Grasses Geraniums
Many people often use shrubs in their landscaping for this purpose, but these shrubs tend to have higher maintenance requirements than other types of plants.
- St. Augustine and Bermuda Grass
Grasses are a great option for hedging because they grow quickly, are durable, and can be planted in large quantities. There are many different types of grasses available for hedging but we will focus on two: St. Augustine and Bermuda Grass.
St. Augustine grass is a dense, fast-growing variety that grows to be about four feet tall in ideal conditions. It requires regular cutting (every few weeks) so it won’t become overgrown.
Bermuda grass is less dense than the St. Augustine and will only grow to be around three feet tall without regular trimming.
It also has a finer leaf texture than the St. Augustine which makes it more appealing as an ornamental plant in addition to being used as a hedge.
When using either type of grass as a hedge, you should space plants at least 3ft apart so they have room to grow.
A mixture of both types of grass is ideal because then you don’t have to worry about maintaining one type if you want the other type to flourish instead.
- Carved Shapes In Stone Or Wood
Carved shapes in stone or wood are the perfect alternative for a box hedge. They are less expensive and require little upkeep.
Plus, they allow you to create whatever shape you want! The downside is that they can be difficult to install if you don’t have much experience with DIY projects.
But don’t let this discourage you! You can find tutorials on YouTube which walk you through how to install them on your own property.
One other thing: They will never get as big as a real box hedge and may need to be replaced every few years but it is well worth it for the extra maintenance-free time you’ll have.
- Bamboo plants
Bamboo plants are one of the most popular alternatives to box hedges. The bamboo is a fast-growing, evergreen plant that can grow up to 60 feet tall and has a beautiful, long grass-like texture.
They can be used in both formal and informal arrangements. One of the benefits of using this plant instead of box hedge is that there is no need for any maintenance because it’s so hardy.
- Ferns
Ferns are another popular alternative for hedges. There are many different types of ferns that range from very small varieties to very large varieties.
One great thing about ferns is that they’re native to North America and can be found all over the United States.
There are also many color varieties available depending on your preference, such as bright green or deep purple.
For those looking for something a little more decorative than just plain old green, there are variegated fern varieties with white or cream stripes throughout the leaves giving them an interesting patterning appearance.
- Weeping Willow Tree
Willows are most often used as ornamental trees, but they also make great hedges because of their drooping branches. As a bonus, they produce catkins in the late winter or early spring that can be used for many crafts.
- Leyland Cypress
Leyland Cypress is the perfect alternative for box hedge because it has a similar shape and color. It’s also tough, tolerant of harsh conditions, and resistant to insects.
Leyland cypress also typically grows slower than box hedge which means you don’t have to trim it as often.